The American Trucking Associations applauded the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for clarifying that due to a recent court ruling, both categories of shorthaul drivers would not be subject to the 30-minute rest break provision of the new hours-of-service rules.

“In its first step to implement the court’s recent Hours of Service ruling, Administrator Ferro and FMCSA have taken a reasonable enforcement approach concerning the rest break provision for both types of shorthaul drivers as the Agency drafts a revised rule to comply with the court,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “We’re pleased that FMCSA is moving forward to provide swift, reasonable relief to drivers who operate locally.”

In its Aug. 2 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the 30-minute break requirement for shorthaul drivers, but only referred in its opinion to non-commercial drivers license holders who operate within 150-mile radius of their reporting location.

Administrator Ferro clarified that FMCSA was applying this ruling to those drivers, as well as CDL holders who operate within 100 miles of their reporting location.

“While the court left much of the new hours-of-service rules unchanged, FMCSA’s clarification on this provision provides important flexibility for shorthaul drivers and the fleets that employ them,” Graves said.